The rhythm of breathing slowly aligned inside the training hall.The air felt heavier—not from pressure, but from concentration.
Lin Huang walked around the circle formed by the group, observing the subtle changes in each person's soul power flow. Xu Tianzhen's flames no longer burst chaotically. Ma Xiaotao's fire was still fierce, but it no longer surged like an untamed beast. Zhang Lexuan's light grew denser and steadier. Meng Hongchen's cold aura became restrained and precise.
His gaze finally settled on Qiu'er.
She stood near one of the pillars, posture relaxed, yet the faint pressure around her body made even Ji Juechen unconsciously shift his stance.
"Your Martial Spirit isn't just dragon-type," Lin Huang said calmly. "It's rooted in lineage and physique. The stronger the bloodline, the denser the Dragon Essence within you. Power like that doesn't simply respond to elemental breathing."
The air around Qiu'er subtly tightened.
"Dragon bloodlines naturally suppress lower-ranked bestial Martial Spirits," he continued. "It's an instinctive authority. The problem is… if the physical body can't withstand that essence, it becomes a burden rather than an advantage."
Qiu'er's eyes narrowed slightly.
"For you, the exercise is not about suppressing instinct," Lin Huang said. "It's about circulating Dragon Essence through the body. Inhale and draw the essence along your meridians. When you exhale, condense it into your bones and blood. Strengthen the vessel first—then the bloodline can manifest without tearing you apart."
Qiu'er closed her eyes and followed his words.
A faint, heavy pressure rolled across the training hall.Meng Hongchen instinctively stepped back half a step.
Then, Lin Huang's voice reached only Qiu'er's ears.
"This method works even if you're not human… as long as you possess a dragon bloodline."
Qiu'er's breathing faltered for a split second.
Her eyes opened slowly, a sharp glint flashing through them.
For the first time since arriving at the academy, a crack appeared in her cold composure.
She stared at Lin Huang.
"…You're troublesome," she said quietly.
Lin Huang looked away as if he had said nothing special.
But inwardly, his suspicion deepened.That reaction was not something a normal human with a dragon-type Martial Spirit would have.
He then turned to Ma Xiaotao and Xu Tianzhen.
"Don't try to skip steps," he said seriously. "Xiaotao, you possess the Phoenix aspect, but before touching that, you must first master pure fire. Otherwise, the Phoenix instinct will only amplify your loss of control."
Ma Xiaotao clenched her fists and nodded."I can feel it… when I try to use both, everything gets worse."
"Exactly." Lin Huang turned to Xu Tianzhen. "Same for you. Your Martial Spirit is the Sun, but the Sun is born from fire. Learn to breathe as fire first. Only later can you attempt to merge the two. Forcing it now will only injure you."
Xu Tianzhen exhaled slowly."So I'm not weak for failing to use the Sun properly yet?"
"No," Lin Huang answered directly. "You're inexperienced. That's different."
Meng Hongchen almost laughed."He's always impatient."
Xu Tianzhen shot her an annoyed glance but didn't argue.
"From now on," Lin Huang continued, "this breathing technique also includes Digestion and basic body cultivation. While you breathe correctly, you'll be refining energy in your body and improving absorption efficiency. It's not fast, but it's stable."
Ji Juechen frowned thoughtfully."So… even my sword training will change?"
"It will," Lin Huang replied. "Your problem isn't lack of strength. You burn too much energy with every strike. If you align your breathing with your blade, you'll last longer—and eventually, you may think about… going beyond a single sword."
Ji Juechen felt a strange chill run down his spine.Those words touched something he had never put into thought before.
Lin Huang raised the spiritual crystal attached to his wrist.
"I won't explain every detail now," he said. "That would take days. I'll transfer the basic breathing and comprehension method directly into your Spiritual Seas."
The group's eyes widened.
"Directly into our minds?!" Su Mei gasped. "Isn't that dangerous?"
"Only if done without consent or sealing," Lin Huang replied. "If you agree, the method will be sealed within your Spiritual Sea—no leakage, no external interference. You'll only be able to use what your body and mind can endure."
He looked at each of them.
One by one, they nodded.
Qiu'er was the last."Do it."
The spiritual crystal glowed softly.
An invisible flow crossed the space and touched each of their minds.
There was no pain.It felt like a door opening.
For the first time, Xu Tianzhen felt the fire within him organize itself.Ma Xiaotao realized the evil heat could be pushed to the edges if she maintained the breathing rhythm.Zhang Lexuan sensed her thoughts becoming clearer.Meng Hongchen instinctively understood where her control had been flawed.Ji Juechen felt his soul power begin to "breathe" alongside his sword movements.And Qiu'er… felt something she hadn't felt in a very long time.
Cold, absolute control over the dragon's essence.
Lin Huang lowered the crystal and exhaled slowly.
"This is only the beginning," he said. "If you keep this rhythm, you'll grow more in months than others do in years of blind training."
The training hall fell silent for a moment.
Then Su Mei grinned brightly."So… from today on, we suffer properly?"
Lin Huang almost laughed.
And in that moment, all of them felt the same strange sensation:something big had just begun.
The training hall did not remain quiet for long.
Ji Juechen stepped forward, his expression sharp, eyes fixed on Lin Huang.
"Fight me."
The words were simple, blunt, carrying no hostility—only stubborn intent.
The others turned in surprise.
Meng Hongchen raised an eyebrow."Are you serious? He just finished setting up everyone's training."
"That's exactly why," Ji Juechen replied. "If he's qualified to lead, then I want to see it for myself."
Lin Huang studied him for a moment, then nodded."Alright. No killing intent. No soul skills. Just control."
They moved to the center of the hall.
Ji Juechen drew his sword.
The blade was plain, unadorned, yet the moment he held it, his entire presence changed. His breathing aligned with the rhythm Lin Huang had just taught, and his soul power flowed smoothly along the length of the sword.
Lin Huang felt a faint pressure.
He did not summon his Martial Spirit.Instead, he took a single step forward.
The moment Ji Juechen moved, the sound of steel cutting through air echoed.
His strikes were fast, relentless, each one precise, refined through countless repetitions.
Lin Huang's body swayed subtly.He avoided, deflected, stepped aside.
To the others, it looked like he was barely moving.Yet every time the blade came close, it missed by the width of a breath.
Ji Juechen's eyes sharpened.
He increased his pace.
The floor cracked faintly beneath his feet.
Lin Huang finally raised his arm and caught the flat of the blade between two fingers.
The hall went silent.
Ji Juechen froze.
He felt the force of his strike dissipate into nothingness, absorbed and redirected.
"You're strong," Lin Huang said calmly. "But strength without rhythm will always collide with itself."
He released the blade and stepped back.
Ji Juechen stared at his sword for a long moment.
Then he sheathed it.
"…Teach me," he said quietly.
A faint smile tugged at Lin Huang's lips.
From that day onward, Ji Juechen joined their training circle.
The routine began to take shape over the following days.
Mornings were dedicated to breathing and body cultivation.Each person followed a different rhythm.
Xu Tianzhen practiced Fire Breathing, learning to stabilize heat within his meridians before attempting to resonate with the Sun aspect of his Martial Spirit.
Ma Xiaotao trained the same fire rhythm, forcing the violent heat of her Evil Fire Phoenix to flow evenly rather than erupt.
Zhang Lexuan practiced Light Breathing, her aura becoming purer, her reactions sharper.
Meng Hongchen trained Ice Breathing, refining control and precision, suppressing unnecessary fluctuations.
Qiu'er trained the Dragon Circulation Method.Her presence became heavier, more restrained.The faint suppressive aura she carried gradually receded into her body instead of leaking outward.
Ji Juechen practiced Blade Breathing.Every swing of his sword synchronized with his inhalation and exhalation.His stamina increased noticeably within days.
Afternoons were reserved for comprehension training.
The technique Lin Huang had implanted began to show its effects.
They learned faster.Their understanding deepened with each repetition.Mistakes that would have taken weeks to notice were corrected within days.
Even Meng Hongchen admitted grudgingly,"…This is annoying. I can tell exactly where I'm being inefficient now."
Su Mei laughed."That's called progress."
Evenings became the only time they truly relaxed.
They gathered after training, eating the spiritual meals Su Mei prepared.
Lin Huang sat slightly apart, watching them quietly.
As he listened to their casual chatter, a thought crossed his mind.
In other worlds… weapons grow alongside their wielders.Swords gain spirits.Armor carries wills.
Here… perhaps it was not impossible either.
The idea lingered, vague and distant.Something to be explored only after the foundation was stable.
Days passed like this.
Then, one evening, a messenger arrived at the academy gates.
His robes bore the crest of the Star Luo Empire.
The message was short.
An invitation.And a warning.
At the same time, far away within the imperial palace,Xu Tianran paused mid-step.
A sudden chill ran down his spine.
"…Strange," he murmured.
For a fleeting moment, he felt as if something he had not yet touched… had already slipped from his grasp.
The night wind stirred the banners above the palace towers.
And somewhere within the academy,Lin Huang felt an inexplicable unease.
Something was moving.